9th Jan 2020 10:01:PM Editorials
Eastern Sentinel Arunachal News

The approval of Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for setting up the North East Natural Gas Pipeline Grid by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday is something that the entire Northeast and Arunachal had been waiting for with rapt eagerness. This is a real invigorating news and with the financial decks now being cleared, the region is going to get a huge dividend-paying asset, which, if properly utilized can contribute solidly in its economic progress.
There are a number of reasons why Northeast needs this project desperately. The first and foremost is the current limited penetration of the supply infrastructure of natural gas arising out of multiple reasons, to the region’s heterogeneous consumer segment that include Industrial, CNG (Transport) and PNG (Domestic). Harsh geography is an unavoidable factor here among many others, resulting in dependency on liquid fuels when the switch-over to natural gas is the only option now. This is despite the fact a good part of NE is a geologically proven storehouse of natural gas with Arunachal also having solid reserves- all waiting to be tapped to accelerate the region’s wheels of progress. The project which is supposed to be 1,656-km in length connecting all the eight states through major cities such as Itanagar, Dimapur, Kohima, Imphal, Aizwal, Agartala, Shillong, Silchar, Gangtok and Numaligarh and to be implemented by Indradhanush Gas Grid Ltd (IGGL) which is a joint venture of major state-owned oil and gas companies, will thus be a credible step towards energy security of entire NE. Not only for the region, the funding which is in tune of about Rs 5,559 crore, making 60 % of the estimated total cost of Rs 9,265 crore will serve the national interest to a substantial extent since it would supplement the broader goal of raising the share of natural gas in the country’s energy usage from current 6.2% to 15% by 2030. Furthermore, the project will be extremely crucial towards reaching the objectives of ‘Hydrocarbon Vision 2030 for Northeast’ that pursues the goal of accelerating development through enhanced access to cleaner fuel options by judiciously utilising the region’s hitherto untapped hydrocarbon potential itself. Again, if measured in light of Act East Policy, the project, if managed with finesse and allowed to reach optimum levels of productivity, can truly arrive as a reliable companion to the dream of transforming the region as the economic gateway to Southeast Asia.
Permanent respite from the nagging domestic LPG crisis, faster economic progress- the list of promises is lengthy. And to fulfil this, the committee assigned to oversee the implementation part must play an aggressive and proactive role. The syndrome of ‘doing things late’ mustn’t have no room in this exceptionally important project.


Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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